Thursday, September 15, 2005

Since I didnt actually play a hand on TV! They seemed to like my hole-cam because I flip my cards one by one to check them, but all I did on the program was folding twice pre-flop.

Unfortunately the TV commentators were awful. It makes Norman Chad seem like a real pro. I don't know if Landsburg is playing dumb or really has never played poker before and their percentages are wayyy off it seems.

Anyhoo... i'm still a TV virgin as far as i'm concerned. Who wants to pop my cherry?

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Sorry i've been "tardy" with the update. Hey, that's NoSkillz other nickname -- he's always late for everything.

Anyways, golf this past weekend was just Saturday. I played pretty decently on the front with a 37, birdied the first two on the back but had a stretch of 4 bad holes to shoot 76. Bah, I played much better than this score.

Poker has been good again. Running a bit warm, picking apart the lags, picking apart the over-tight players... basically learning to play the game properly. I've started to work a few moves into my game and it's been paying off handsomely. Semi-bluffs have worked, my pure bluffs (rare) haven't. Guess that says something about NL50.

Getting very close to my move-up line of $2k. Will have a bankroll update on Friday as usual but I'm looking forward to the transition. I haven't played very many hands of NL50 even, but when it's time to go, it's time to go. I know i'll never be satisfied if I just sit at a limit like NL50. Poker is as much about the challenge of improving as it is the money (since the money i'm playing for is relatively small).

I completely expect at the next few levels the money will become serious enough that my wagers will have real consequences in my life. Since i'm keeping a dedicated bankroll, that means little to my every-day life on downswings, but could mean a lot if it continues to grow. I would LOVE to be able to withdraw just 1k USD a month to invest. Honestly, I'm not even sure what my goal with poker is... 200NL? for now, yeah... thats the next level. I'm not the sort to take shots at 2kNL on a 100NL bankroll fortunately for my bankroll :)

Tell my a year ago I'd be playing poker with multiple-hundreds in buy-in... and I'd have told you you're nuts. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Friday, September 09, 2005

Hmmm... that's better. Note that this increase includes the 10 hands at 100NL i played (foolishly probably) but doubled up for a hit&run so its all good.

I purchased a new book at Chapters yesterday - The Professor, The Banker & The Suicide King... yes... another poker book... good so far!

When (if) I hit $2k bankroll i'm on the move again. Somehow I doubt 100NL will be much tougher than 50NL... but going beyond that I know there's a tougher game waiting for me. Hope i get there sometime.

Monday, September 05, 2005

This being a long weekend, its a great chance to do all the stuff thats hard to do on a normal weekend.

Today Harris, NoSkillz, Preston and I went and played Grand Niagara golf club, a new Rees Jones design in Niagara Falls, ON. A nearly 7500 yard track, it's a test, and its awesome. I was a dismal 84 today... ugh. Still, there are some wicked holes including a 236 yard par 3 carrying a gigantic bunker guarding the right front of the green (playing into the wind, of course). Many raised greens with collections areas, lots of fescue, lots of tree and shrub filled hazards... it's tough. I highly recommend it, especially for the current deal of $99.

Fortunately, NoSkillz and I pulled off a victory over Harris and Preston, thus we were treated to dinner at Happy Jack's in Fort Erie. On Harris' reco, it's an awesome chinese food spot with top notch food. We totally devoured a huge and excellent meal.

Unfortunately, on the way home NoSkillz bailed out on Part 3 of the day -- poker. I'm actually getting used to hearing the bullshit excuses on this subject so I had the odds at 2:1 against even though he was gung ho the other day. Further, the golf pro's who were going to attend bailed too. As Harry would say when people ditch him... GO FUCK YOURSELVES. I always get a kick out of that.

I didn't let it stop me from completing part 3 of the ultimate day. Heading off to Casino Niagara around 9pm, I was put on the list for 1/2NL and 3/6 immediately. It took a bit to get a seat, so i wandered around checking out the new sportsbook which opens in a few days and the new bar. With the bar near the poker room, it's both too loud, and a bit smoky. GET RID OF THE CIGARETTES IN THE F'IN CARD ROOM ASSHOLES.

(By the way, i'm drinking while posting this).

And the reason i'm drinking beer as opposed to a milkshake (the traditional poker victory drink) is the fact that I KEEP GETTING KILLED at 1/2 NL at the casino. Here are all of my major hands.

1. I have JJ in MP and raise to $12 (typical raise here). One caller who is relatively shortstacked at 50 or so on the button. Flop is A-Q-x. I bet 15, he raises all-in for 38, I fold. No big deal. I've got to Continuation Bet that and had no info on the caller.

2. I have KQs in LP and raise to $12. Loose aggressive in the blinds calls. Flop is J-6-4. I CB 15 again, lag calls quickly. Turn is an Ace. LAG bets $5. I must have had a gus hansen face because I found that bet confusing, but at this point I've got nothing, but have a 4-out draw to the nut straight. River is the 10 completing my straight. He checks, I push, he calls w 88. Double me up i'm ahead again. Dumb bastard should have bet the turn 10 or 15 and the pot was his.

3. I have 77 on the button, 4 limpers, I limp. Blinds min-raise to $5, all call. Flop is 7-9-J. EP bets $10, I raise to $25. All fold to him. Turn is 10. EP checks, I check (the whole idea of pot control is something ive picked up recently). River is a beautiful 10 filling me up. EP checks, I bet $40 (about what he had left). He calls. I say "I have a boat", and flip over my cards. He said "So do I..." ... I PUKE... he flips over JJ for the higher full house. OH MY GOD. Nice hand i said. I didn't mean it... set over set sucks when you're on the ass end.

4. I have 79o in the SB with 5 limpers, I complete. Flop is PERFECT 6-8-T rainbow. I check planning to c/r. It's checked around... this table does not check around.... gah. Turn is a 7c. DAMNIT! I bet out $10. One caller. River is a Ac putting 3 clubs on board. I bet $15 as I figure we're splitting, nope... he had Kc-9c. Had the straight at the turn card, and a freeroll to the flush which he hit. UGH! DAMN.

REBUY!

5. I have KK in MP after two limpers. I raise to $12 and all fold. THEY NEVER ALL FOLD AT THIS TABLE! ugh.

6. I have AK on the button, 3 limpers to me and I make it $15. two callers. Flop is J-9-3 rainbow. Tricky-loose EP bets $20, I fold.

7. MP raises to $7 (his typical is $5) and I look down at JJ. I call from the button (should have re-raised but his raise was different than usual so I was wondering whats up). Flop is KK9. He bets $20 and stares weakly at the table. I take that as a tell that he's strong after a minute of thinking and fold. Not sure I enjoy this hand.

8. I GET THE HELL OUT. Down $140 for the night... fun huh? There's no way im getting away from that straight or full house hand... thats just awful.

I have NO LUCK at the casino. It's truly awful to be dealt good second-best hands so often. I played a typical tight-aggressive game with decent reads on the other players and I got murdered.

Feh. This is why im drinking beer instead of a milkshake.

Congrats to NoSkillz on his record 68 at St. Catharines Golf & C.C. on Saturday. That's pretty sick shooting.